Waking Up To Secret Combinations

For discussion of secret combinations (political, economic, spiritual, religious, etc.) (Ether 8:18-25.)
lundbaek
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by lundbaek »

President Packer spoke those words in 2007 at an event in Provo, UT, and then they appeared in the August 2010 Ensign on Pg. 23.

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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lundbaek wrote:President Packer spoke those words in 2007 at an event in Provo, UT, and then they appeared in the August 2010 Ensign on Pg. 23.
So by "feasting on the word", specifically the Book of Mormon, a mandate that has caused condemnation in the church ensued due to a great number of church members not doing so, the contents therein teaching us about these Gadianton's, Gadianton's once again have seized Government and many like minded people because they ignore, even mock our God.
This is a indictment that will fall on the heads of the unfaithful Saints in the future, and will be difficult to bear.

Along these lines, has anyone read "Secret Combinations Today: A Voice of Warning", by Robert E Hales?

An excerpt on an Amazon page:
This book is essential for these perilous times! It sounds the warning trumpet, alerting the Saints to imminent dangers that are rapidly crescendoing in their severity. First, the secret combinations of old, using the Book of Mormon account of Korihor as a model is examined. Teachings, tactics, methods and practices of these ancient groups are analyzed and a model is developed which can be used to identify similar organizations that exist today. Shifting the focus to the present, warnings concerning the individual and the family are presented. Next, the view widens to the citizens of the United States. Then the panorama is broadened again to get a worldwide perspective. The book warns of conspiracies on the individual level, related to sexual perversions, homosexuality, abortion, pornography, drugs and Satan worship. At the family level, attacks on family unity and the traditional nuclear family are discussed. Challenges to parenting, child and spouse abuse, and problems in moderns education are illuminated. Terrorism, organized crime, gangs and political corruption are discussed on a broader level. Significant questions about the nation's vulnerability in connection with its monetary policies and serious indebtedness are raised. The history of the Federal Reserve System is examined. The way taxes are used to control the people and the pulpits of the nation is exposed. Opposing views concerning the sanctity and instrumentality of the U.S. Constitution are also presented. On an international level, the warning cry is raised concerning the rapid move toward one world government. This movement's impact is examined in therms of international finance and banking, environmental concerns, population control, youth education, control of civil unrest and the right to bear arms, and international control of religion. The final chapter is a series of recommendations to individual latter-day Saints suggesting appropriate ways to work towards the preservation of their freedoms. Surely, no book can be no more appropriate for these tumultuous last days that Secret Combinations Today: A Voice of Warning.

SEE: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Combinati ... 0882905694" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Of all the books I have, including this one, I have read a good share of them except SCT. Shame on me.

Another book of interest is The American Covenant - One Nation Under God, by Timothy Ballard:

Vol 1 https://www.amazon.com/American-Covenan ... 6Y5GASKCMQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Vol 2 https://www.amazon.com/American-Covenan ... %2C+Vol.+2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tim Ballard — The American Covenant (One Nation Under God):

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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Here is at least one thing my so-called representative believes. Instead of creating jobs, he wants to maintain having immigrants, doesn't say what legal status, work here in Oregon.

Rep. Kurt Schrader Calls President Donald Trump's Border Wall "A Stupid Idea"
By Nigel Jaquiss, Willamette Week
http://schrader.house.gov/news/document ... tID=390708" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Washington, January 27, 2017 | 0 comments

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced plans to follow through with his campaign pledge to add to the existing wall between the U.S. and Mexico, at a cost of around $15 billion.

U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.)'s tweet this morning is pretty self-explanatory.
Schrader represents Oregon's Fifth District, which covers a wide swath of the Willamette Valley, where agricultural interests depend on immigrant labor, and the parts of the Cascades and the Coast Range, where migrant workers often replant timber lands.

Schrader, of course, is just one of many skeptics about Trump's plan.
Read the full story at Willamette Week.

From: http://schrader.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=100083" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The time is ripe for this Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform for the sake of our economy, jobs and millions of hopeful Americans.

A bipartisan Senate group is currently working on a comprehensive plan they hope to introduce this spring. The framework they have put forward is fair and sensible.

There needs to be a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Special pathways are needed for the children of immigrants, who were brought to the United States through no action of their own, and for migrant workers, who are integral to the operation of our agricultural economies. The pathway to citizenship should require a background check, followed by a probationary period where immigrants learn English, pay back taxes and work before getting in the line for full citizenship.

The pathway to citizenship should be built upon improvements to border control and the legal immigration system. We have already drastically reduced illegal border crossings with massive investments in border security in the last four years. Investments in technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance, a functional and mandatory employment verification system and better tracking of people entering and exiting the United States is also essential. Many immigrants have simply overstayed their visas.

Additionally, the legal immigration system must be reformed to reflect our values and the needs of our modern economy. The visa system must admit innovative job creators and their families to the United States and also needs a better low-tech guest worker program, especially for agricultural workers. In doing so, we must ensure that the rights of all workers, both Americans and immigrants, are protected.

I am hopeful we can do this because the outline proposed by Senators from both parties includes all those essential elements and has the blessing of the President to move forward. My colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are also optimistic about the prospects of this outline becoming a solid legislative proposal. However, we do not yet have legislative language and there are voices of dissent.
.............................................................................................................................................
So how can I get him to look at this new bill, let alone agree with it?

Congressman Thomas Massie introduced H.R. 899, a bill to abolish the Department of Education.

The idea is to...abolish the Department of Education to return control of education back to parents and local communities.

And I fully agree.

lundbaek
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by lundbaek »

Interesting that just over 100 years ago a U.S. Senator, Charles Lindbergh had this to say in the Senate:

"There is a sinister influence at work in our country, which if it is not checked, intends to completely undermine the original purpose of the formation of our government...and to bring all the world into one control and one system, which for purposes of deception of the plain people, they would call a ‘world democracy’, but which in fact it is their plan to make the rule of the wealth grabbers, maintained by simple organization of themselves and disorganization of the masses, pitting the masses against each other... The few now desire to cut off every possible avenue of escape from industrial slavery for the masses.” –Senator Charles A. Lindbergh Sr., in a speech given July 5, 1916

lundbaek
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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"...the engineered refugee crisis was created and is being used, at least in part, to advance what globalists often refer to in public as "global governance" and their "new world order"....the same self-styled humanitarians claiming to be concerned about refugees, while demanding that they be given asylum in the West by the millions, are, in reality, the same people responsible for making their victims into refugees to begin with.....Western governments and their allies - not to mention the globalists forces behind them, such as the Council on Foreign Relations and other global-government powerhouses - destroyed multiple Middle eastern nations via war and chaos." (The New American of April 4, 2016, Pg. 11)

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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Jack Monnett History of Secret Combinations - BYU Freedom Society

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"He DOES have evidence." ex-CIA agent, on Obama wiretapping Trump
Mark Levin PROVES Trump Wiretapping Claims: ‘The Evidence Is Overwhelming’ #ObamaGate
Obama Knew About Wiretapping Trump - Newt Gingrich | Fox News

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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Secret Combination Movie
J. Reuben Clark Jr. - Constitution

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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Jason wrote: March 25th, 2016, 12:40 am Good stuff...now what do you do with it?

The reason I believe church leadership strays away from it now is that most don't seem to be able to decipher the threat and it turns to contentious battles over politics that go nowhere.

Name one political candidate today that is not tied into the conspiracy detailed above in one form or another?

And we have the prophetic address-
...not going to be saved in Washington...
I agree with Jason, what do we do? Stepping out of my usual cynical character, I think Mirkwood and others are right on, and have done an admirable job in presenting in one place a lot of prophecy and instruction about what we are facing. But the problem most, if not all, of us have is how to go about combatting the evil that surrounds us. It so daunting that I think many flee from it and just hope it goes away, which of course is a fatal decision to say the least.

So back to Jason's question, what do we do about it? We need to get past the simple "fight evil", make out "homes safe from evil influences", and all the other platitudes that come so easily to mind. What specifically do we, as a nation do? I am really lookin for answers here.

lundbaek
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by lundbaek »

I believe there are people in government who not tied into the conspiracy detailed above in one form or another? Probably not many, but I believe freshman representative from Arizona Andy Biggs qualifies.

As to what each of us can do to, I think each of us needs to consult with the Lord and pray that He will give us direction appropriate for our abilities, knowledge, and station in life. I addition to "fight evil", make out "homes safe from evil influences", and all the other platitudes that come so easily to mind", a review of what the Lord, ancient prophets (especially Nephi and Moroni) and latter-day prophets and apostles counseled us certainly has given me guidance and direction in trying to promote the kind of government the Lord wanted us to have and awake others to our "awful situation". If I understand correctly, a time will come when there will be an effort to restore the Constitution and oppose the secret combinations with more than platitudes. I don't think many LDS people are prepared to make much of a contribution to such an effort.

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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lundbaek wrote: March 9th, 2017, 10:13 pm I believe there are people in government who not tied into the conspiracy detailed above in one form or another? Probably not many, but I believe freshman representative from Arizona Andy Biggs qualifies.

As to what each of us can do to, I think each of us needs to consult with the Lord and pray that He will give us direction appropriate for our abilities, knowledge, and station in life. I addition to "fight evil", make out "homes safe from evil influences", and all the other platitudes that come so easily to mind", a review of what the Lord, ancient prophets (especially Nephi and Moroni) and latter-day prophets and apostles counseled us certainly has given me guidance and direction in trying to promote the kind of government the Lord wanted us to have and awake others to our "awful situation". If I understand correctly, a time will come when there will be an effort to restore the Constitution and oppose the secret combinations with more than platitudes. I don't think many LDS people are prepared to make much of a contribution to such an effort.
From: The Weighty Matters Of The Law A Plea for the Latter-day Saints to Awaken A compilation by Mark E. Hudson 2006

President Ezra Taft Benson said the following in the April 1965 General Conference: “As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape the eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare or will they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?”

President Benson also said this in his book An Enemy Hath Done This, pg 313-317:

“Satan is anxious to neutralize the inspired counsel of the Prophet and hence keep the priesthood off balance, ineffective and inert in the fight for freedom. He does this through diverse means, including the use of perverse reasoning. For example, he will argue, “There is no need to get involved in the fight for freedom – all you need to do is live the gospel." Of course this is a contradiction, because we cannot fully live the gospel and not be involved in the fight for freedom.

The cause of freedom is a most basic part of our religion”....

“Sometimes from behind the pulpit, in our classrooms, in our council meetings, and in our Church publications, we hear, read or witness things that do not square with the truth. This is especially true where freedom is involved. Now do not let this serve as an excuse for your own wrongdoing. The Lord is letting the wheat and the tares mature before he fully purges the Church. He is also testing you to see if you will be misled. The devil is trying to deceive the very elect.”

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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From: The Weighty Matters Of The Law A Plea for the Latter-day Saints to Awaken A compilation by Mark E. Hudson 2006

The Saints Support the Secret Combinations

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in his October 2005 General Conference address spoke about the blessings that come from truly reading and understanding the Book of Mormon. He said:

“Why is the reading of the Book of Mormon so important to us today? It is because the major writers of the Book of Mormon fully understood that their writings were primarily for the people of a future generation rather than for the people of their own generation. Moroni wrote to our generation, “I speak unto you as if ye were present” (Morm. 8:35).

“The Book of Mormon is a voice of warning to this generation. See how vividly it describes conditions on the earth today:

....“And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.

“President Ezra Taft Benson reaffirmed the fact that the Book of Mormon is of particular value to our time when he said:

“The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessing today. Those people never had the book—it was meant for us. Mormon, the ancient prophet after whom the book is named, abridged centuries of records. God, who knows the end from the beginning, told him what to include in his abridgment that we would need for our day” (“The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, May 1975, 63).

“Each time we read the book we should probably ask ourselves: “Why did these writers choose these particular stories or events to include in the record? What value are they for us today?” [Note: Why are secret combinations the fourth most-mentioned topic within the pages of the Book or Mormon?]

“Among the lessons we learn from the Book of Mormon are the cause and effect of war and under what conditions it is justified. It tells of evils and dangers of secret combinations, which are built up to get power and gain over the people. It tells of the reality of Satan and gives an indication of some of the methods he uses.”

Why does Elder Perry mention secret combinations twice? Why does he also mention that the Book of Mormon teaches us “the cause and effect of war and under what conditions it is justified” if we were fighting a justifiable war now in Iraq? There are many who rightfully question the righteousness of the current war. If you read Helaman Chapter 6: 18-22 you will be struck by the following verses. Remember that the Nephites represented members of God’s true Church:

18. ...there were many, even among the Nephites, of Gadianton's band...


21
21. But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths...
22. And thus they might commit murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God.

I don't think that these Nephites were just “useful idiots”- it seems they willfully entered into covenants and oaths with other conspirators.

Also noteworthy, a majority or "more part" of the Nephites were united with the Gadiantons.

How was that possible? Is it possible today among the Saints?

Ezra Taft Benson stated the same thing and paralleled that to our day in stating:

“Secret combinations flourished because, as Helaman tells us, the Gadianton robbers ‘had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and
partake of their spoils... even as today. ”(Helaman 6:38). (Ezra Taft Benson “The Savior’s Visit to America” May Ensign 1987. p.4.)

Now what does all of this have to do with the Latter-day Saints today? Surely the Gadiantons in this context have nothing to do with the mafia, terrorists, drug cartels or gangs which many Saints falsely interpret the secret combinations to be. The Saints typically aren’t tempted to join any of these evil groups, but they do align themselves with false governmental and political philosophies.

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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From: The Weighty Matters Of The Law A Plea for the Latter-day Saints to Awaken A compilation by Mark E. Hudson 2006

A Word of Warning to the Saints about Their Political Beliefs

From the statements above we know that the Saints in all times have been guilty of building up and upholding secret combinations.

How can we be assured that we are not one of them? How can we be assured that we are not deceived? How can we be assured that we aren’t one of the ones who President Clark warned about, as quoted here by Ezra Taft Benson?

“Yes, within the Church today there are tares among the wheat and wolves within the flock. As President Clark stated, ‘The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed with sheep’s clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood.... We should be careful of them...”(EzraTaft Benson, “To the Humble Followers of Christ” Improvement Era June 1969. p.43.)

A great patriot of our nation, President David O. McKay, said back in the 60’s in a letter to the BYU faculty about our trend towards socialism in America and I believe it is still applicable today:

“I cannot help but think that there is a direct relationship between the present evil trends and the very marked tendency of the people of our country to pass onto the state the responsibility for their own moral and economic welfare. This trend to a welfare state in which people look to and worship government more than their God, is certain to sap the individual ambitions and moral fiber of our youth unless they are warned of the consequences. History is replete with the downfall of nations who, instead of assuming their own responsibility...mistakenly attempted to shift their individual responsibility to the government.”

Consider what the Saints overwhelmingly support politically today and compare these things with the words of our Founding Fathers and the Prophets. There is a perception among the members of the LDS Church, that in order to be a ‘good Mormon’ one should vote Republican. It is also commonly felt among the Saints that the precepts of the modern day Democratic Party platform are opposed to what we believe. However, as will be demonstrated below, there is a distinct danger to the Saints in blindly following either major party. The deception comes when the Saints believe that they are “choosing the right” when that choice all along may not be correct or righteous.

Fact: the State of Utah gives President Bush the highest job-approval rating of all of the States in America.
Fact: over 70% of the population in Utah are registered Republican.
Fact: Utah is the most “Republican” state in America.
Fact: Under Bush and the Republicans (with help from the Democrats) our nation is in more debt than ever before in our nations history – over $9 Trillion. As of 2006 the per capita national debt is over $30,000 per man, woman and child. Under Bush and the Republican led Congress more debt has been added to our national debt than under all previous Presidential administrations combined.

In 1997 Gordon B. Hinckley had this to say about our national debt:

“What a dismal station we have reached in this nation where we have borrowed and spent and failed to repay. At the close of 1994, every man, woman, and child in the United States owed as his or her part of the national debt $17,805.64. Think of it. It is a disgrace. It affects all of our monetary policies and all of our commerce. It burdens us with taxes from which there is little or no relief.”

Thomas Jefferson said:

“I deem economy to be one of the first and most important republican virtues and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared.”

We have doubled our national debt since Hinckley said that, largely under supposedly “conservative” political leadership.

Fact: Due to the passage of the USA Patriot Act by politicians from both major parties and with President Bush’s signature, Americans have lost more of their God-given Constitutional liberties than ever before in our nation’s history. This legislation severely threatens the Bill of Rights but especially the 4th Amendment protections. The President alone can now determine who is a terrorist threat. Many Saints support these measures because the President and Congress claim that it is for our safety, but as President Benson quoted: “There used to be a time when the American people roared like lions for liberty, but now they bleat like sheep for security. ”We shouldn’t sacrifice liberty for safety.

President J. Reuben Clark also warned about legislation like the USA Patriot Act:

“Under [God’s] plan the only allegiance we owe as citizens...of the United States, runs to our inspired Constitution which God himself setup....This principle of allegiance to the Constitution is basic to our freedom.
“I wish to say with all the earnestness I possess ....when you see government invading any of these realms of freedom which we have under our Constitution, you will know that they are putting shackles on your liberty, and that tyranny is creeping upon you, no matter who curtails these liberties or who invades these realms, and no matter what the reason and excuse therefore may be. ”(The Improvement Era, July 1940)

Have we heeded that warning? Do we support in any way any legislation which, in its remotest effect, would endanger our God-given liberties? Tyranny is creeping upon us.

Fact: Utah gave President Bush and the Republicans the highest percentage of victory in the 2004 Presidential election out of the entire country. This was clearly a vote in support of the Un-constitutional War in Iraq and the perpetual ‘War on Terror’ in general. This also shows LDS support for the expansion of the welfare state and the attack on our liberties through legislation like the Patriot Act. In fact many Latter-day Saints come out in fervent support of our nation’s current foreign policy. Many Saints even believe that we should be spreading “democracy” through force around the world because it is “for their own good”.

While this may show good intentions, it doesn’t mesh with proper Constitutional principles. It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Have the Saints considered the words of our Prophets concerning proper U.S. foreign policy as well as their warnings against worshipping the false gods of war?

President Benson stated:

“There is one and only one legitimate goal of United States foreign policy. It is a narrow goal, a nationalistic goal: the preservation of our national independence. Nothing in the Constitution grants that the president shall have the privilege of offering himself as a world leader.... Nothing in the Constitution nor in logic grants to the president of the United States or Congress the power to influence the political life of other countries, to ‘uplift’ their cultures, to bolster their economies, to feed their people, or even defend them against their enemies.”(Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 614;pp.682 & 704)

And President Spencer W. Kimball stated in his 1976 talk The False Gods We Worship:

“When I review the performance of this people.....I am appalled and frightened.....We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel – ships, planes, missiles, fortifications – and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become anti-enemy instead of pro-Kingdom of God; we train man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan’s counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior’s teaching: ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven’.”

The scriptures are filled with verses discussing the wicked nature of offensive, pre-emptive war and the evil of “going out” to battle. (See 3 Nephi 3: 17-21, D&C 98:33, 3 Nephi 2:12, D&C 98:16-8, Mormon 3:10,14-15,etc..)

This is what President Gordon B. Hinckley said in the context of the current war in Iraq:

“War, of course, is not new. The weapons change. The ability to kill and destroy is constantly refined. But there has been conflict throughout the ages over essentially the same issues....

“Isaiah speaks further concerning that great conflict (see Isa. 14:12–20). Modern revelation gives additional light (see D&C 76:25–29), as does the book of Moses (see Moses 4:1–4), which tells of Satan’s plan to destroy the agency of man....

[Note: the War on Terror seems to be a war on our liberties more than anything.]

“We sometimes are prone to glorify the great empires of the past, such as the Ottoman Empire, the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and in more recent times, the vast British Empire. But there is a darker side to every one oft hem. There is a grim and tragic overlay of brutal conquest, of subjugation, of repression, and an astronomical cost in life and treasure...

“But modern revelation states that we are to “renounce war and proclaim peace.”(D&C 98:16).....[end of Hinckley quote]

Are we truly fighting for “a better cause” as the Book of Mormon says? Are we truly defending our own homes, lives, families and liberties over in Iraq? Did Iraq attack America? In the Book of Mormon the righteous Nephites never “went out” to battle but only fought to defend the borders of their own lands. When the Nephites did venture out in offensive war they were always defeated.

Fact: Under President Bush and the Republicans the federal government and taxpayer funded welfare entitlements have grown more than at any other time in our nation’s history. Far more people are dependent upon the Government for some benefit than at any other time in our history.
Fact: The National Republican Party Platform from 2004 says the following:

“Republicans applaud President Bush for launching groundbreaking efforts to address the needs and hopes of the world’s poor, cutting across traditional boundaries to focus on what works....

“Republicans believe that a world where some live in comfort and plenty, while half of the human race lives on less than $2 a day, is neither just nor stable. We applaud President Bush and the Republican Congress for their leadership and moral clarity in making the inclusion of all of the world’s poor in an expanding circle of development –and opportunity – one of the top priorities of U.S. international policy....

“Decades of massive development assistance have failed to spur economic growth in the poorest countries....

“Where governments have implemented real policy changes, we will provide significant new levels of assistance. The United States and other developed countries should set an ambitious and specific target: to double the size of the world’s poorest economies within a decade.” [end of excerpt from Republican Platform]

Contrast those words with the words of our Prophets. Again, remember these words uttered by a Prophet of God:

“Nothing in the Constitution nor in logic grants to the president of the United States or Congress the power to influence the political life of other countries, to ‘uplift’ their cultures, to bolster their economies, to feed their people, or even defend them against their enemies.”(Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 614; pp. 682 & 704)

I also highly encourage you to locate Elder Dallin H. Oaks’ entire talk from October 2003 General Conference entitled Repentance and Change to see where the Lord stands on government entitlements and programs established to bring equality to the people. Here is just part of what he said:

“The traditions or culture or way of life of a people inevitably include some practices that must be changed by those who wish to qualify for God’s choicest blessings....

“In these examples I am not contrasting the culture or traditions of one part of the world with another. I am contrasting the Lord’s way with the world’s way—the culture of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the culture or traditions of every nation or people....

“There is a unique gospel culture, a set of values and expectations and practices common to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This gospel way of life comes from the plan of salvation, the commandments of God, and the teachings of the living prophets. It is given expression in the way we raise our families and live our individual lives.... This requires us to make some changes from our family culture, our ethnic culture, or our national culture. We must change all elements of our behavior that are in conflict with gospel commandments, covenants, and culture....

“The gospel plan is based on individual responsibility.... This requirement of individual responsibility, which has many expressions in our doctrine, is in sharp contrast to Satan’s plan to “redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost .” (Moses 4:1). The plan of the Father and the Savior is based on individual choice and individual effort.

“...We live in a world where there are large differences in income and material possessions and where there are many public and private efforts to narrow these differences. The followers of the Savior are commanded to give to the poor, and many do. But some gifts have promoted a culture of dependency, reducing their recipients’ need for earthly food or shelter but impoverishing them in their eternal need for individual growth. The growth required by the gospel plan only occurs in a culture of individual effort and responsibility. It cannot occur in a culture of dependency. Whatever causes us to be dependent on someone else for decisions or resources we could provide for ourselves weakens us spiritually and retards our growth toward what the gospel plan intends us to be.” [End of Dallin H. Oaks’ quote]

Also consider this statement from President Ezra Taft Benson:

"When government presumes to demand more and more of the fruits of men's labor through taxation, and reduces more and more its actual income by printing money and furthering debt, the wage earner is left with less and less to buy food, to provide housing, medical care, education, and private welfare. Individuals are then left without a choice, and must look to the state as benevolent supporter. When that happens, liberty is gone!"

Are we, through our votes or our party loyalty, supporting candidates who support “the culture of dependency” or socialism? Have we supported the taking away of our freedoms in exchange for safety? Are we failing the test?

This is what Heber. C Kimball said of the Saints:

"Yes, we think we are secure here in the chambers of these everlasting hills . . .but I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy against the people of God. Then is the time to look out for The great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall. For I say unto you there is a test, a Test, a TEST coming."
(Heber C. Kimball, 1856. Quoted by J. Golden Kimball, Conf. Report, Oct 1930,pp. 59-60.)

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by freedomforall »

From: The Weighty Matters Of The Law A Plea for the Latter-day Saints to Awaken A compilation by Mark E. Hudson 2006

The Saints Can Be Deceived

The Latter-day Prophets and Apostles are constantly preaching “the milk” of the gospel, even to life-long members of the Church. “Pay your tithing”, “do your home teaching”, “go to the Temple”, “love your neighbors”, “provide for and nurture your family”, “have Family Home Evening every Monday”, “read your scriptures”, etc., are all common themes and are all very important to not leave undone. While some may get tired of hearing it, it must be needed. If the Saints cannot live the basics of the gospel and stay away from pornography, gambling, worldliness, greed, abuse and violence on their own accord, then the Prophets musts pend their time on these very basic evils and constantly warn the Saints against them. This also means that they are not able to preach about the real “meat” of the gospel and the weighty matters of the kingdom. However, I will make the case that our leaders really are speaking of “the meat” to those who have ears to hear.

There are many wonderful and faithful Latter-day Saints who are doing many of the basic, righteous things of the gospel and yet are still deceived or “blinded by the craftiness of men”. How? It is very important to be obedient to the basics of the gospel as mentioned above. Without obedience to the“milk”of the gospel we will never have the Holy Ghost with us long enough to see clearly and not be deceived nor to ultimately get the “meat”.

We know from the scriptures that even the very elect will be deceived. Consider Joseph Smith Translation of Mathew 1:22:22

For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect....

Also in Doctrine and Covenants section 76 the Lord warns that many good men of the earth will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom because they were deceived:

71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn.....
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.

Is it not possible for Latter-day Saints to be included in this definition of those who were “blinded by the craftiness of men” and hence will inherit the terrestrial kingdom because of it?President Benson apparently thought this could be the case when he stated:

“The Lord said that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”(Luke 16:8) [From Benson’s Civic Standards For The Faithful Saints talk]“

President Marion G Romney also stated in a talk... ‘There is no guarantee that the devil will not deceive a lot of men who hold the priesthood.’”[From Benson’s Be Not Deceived talk in General Conference from the early 60s]

What are they talking about? Can the saints be deceived by pornography, immodesty, alcoholism, gambling, etc.? No! The Saints absolutely know that these things are wrong! Consider the very beginning, even the War in Heaven. What was it fought over?

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kittycat51
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by kittycat51 »

Freedom THANK YOU! (Oh where oh where has that thank button gone? O where O where can it be?)

Great posts. :ymapplause:

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by lundbaek »

I'd like to forward these bits from Mark Hudson's book to certain friends and acquaintances but it would help to know more about Mark E. Hudson. I could find nothing helpful on Google. Was he once a candidate for legislative office in Utah or in Congress ?

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by freedomforall »

lundbaek wrote: March 10th, 2017, 10:37 am I'd like to forward these bits from Mark Hudson's book to certain friends and acquaintances but it would help to know more about Mark E. Hudson. I could find nothing helpful on Google. Was he once a candidate for legislative office in Utah or in Congress ?
Here is the link: The Weightier Matters of the Law

The Weightier Matters of the Law

Mark Hudson, who is running for Congress in District 1 in Utah, has recently written/compiled an e-book titled “The Weighter Matters of the Law”. You can download it here.

This book says it is “a plea for the Latter-day Saints to awaken”. The introductory paragraph is as follows:

This booklet was written for the sincere consideration of my Latter-day Saint brethren and sisters in the last part of the latter days. I truly feel that anyone who will take the time to read and ponder these words will have vital information that they can consider and pray about when contemplating what we are experiencing in the last days. This information could also affect our future as well as our salvation. I am simply sharing with you my testimony about things “as they really are and as they really will be”. I testify that these things are true.

It is no surprise to those that read my blog that I believe there are secret combinations in our government and world today. I believe that the prophets have frequently spoken out about them, and it is up to those “who hath ears to hear” to listen, prepare, and act accordingly.

I have many people ask me why I care so much about it, or why I read about it constantly. This book will address those questions, and hopefully convince you and others of the importance of being aware of things “as they really are”. We cannot be saved in ignorance. Please, read the book.

SEE: http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/the-we ... of-the-law

For what it is worth, I could not recall where I found this info. Only tonight was I able to find a link. Now we all can be enlightened. :YMPARTY:

Conner's contact page: http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/contact

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by freedomforall »

Latter-day Liberty: A Gospel Approach to Government and Politics

Individual liberty is a fundamental aspect of the good news of the gospel. But what is liberty exactly, and what role does it play in our lives? Connor Boyack explores these questions and much more in this detailed analysis of historical developments, secular information, and scriptural insights. The war in heaven continues on earth today, and our agency and liberty are under attack. Arm yourself with the truth by reading this timely book.
Last edited by freedomforall on March 13th, 2017, 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

lundbaek
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by lundbaek »

Thank you, FFA for the work you put into gathering all this information and compiling it here. I realize now that I heard Mark Hudson speak in SLC in the Fall of 2006 when he was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, representing, as I recall, the Constitution Party. Chuck Baldwin was the main speaker at that event. That was 10.5 years ago now, during which time I greatly increased my efforts to make more Latter-day Saints aware of their/our divine mandate to learn, uphold. and abide by the principles of the US Constitution, and to awake to and oppose the efforts of the "secret combination" that is increasingly gaining control over our wealth and our government. I even ran for the U.S. House myself in 2008 as an independent write-in candidate, a seemingly futile effort that, nevertheless enabled me to reach over 1000 LDS voters with my message. Unfortunately, or as I should have expected, my effort was treated as a joke by many in our ward and stake, so much so that I discontinued campaigning within our stake. Bur overall, I was and still am pleased with the result. And I still, obviously, continue to find other ways to promote my message. For example, down at the bottom of the lds.org website is a link for making comments about the site. I made the following comment and I'm anxious to see what sort of a reply I get. I wrote: "I'd like to suggest that an occasional article be posted to remind Church members that the Lord established the U.S. Constitution by the hands of wise men whom He raised up unto that very purpose (D&C 101:77 & 80), and that Latter-day Saints have been told they must study the inspired Constitution and become involved in the political process ourselves to safeguard our freedoms." A big part of the freedom battle is very similar to missionary work and looking for opportunities to get the messages out to listening ears. .

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by freedomforall »

lundbaek wrote: March 11th, 2017, 10:26 am Thank you, FFA for the work you put into gathering all this information and compiling it here. I realize now that I heard Mark Hudson speak in SLC in the Fall of 2006 when he was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, representing, as I recall, the Constitution Party. Chuck Baldwin was the main speaker at that event. That was 10.5 years ago now, during which time I greatly increased my efforts to make more Latter-day Saints aware of their/our divine mandate to learn, uphold. and abide by the principles of the US Constitution, and to awake to and oppose the efforts of the "secret combination" that is increasingly gaining control over our wealth and our government. I even ran for the U.S. House myself in 2008 as an independent write-in candidate, a seemingly futile effort that, nevertheless enabled me to reach over 1000 LDS voters with my message. Unfortunately, or as I should have expected, my effort was treated as a joke by many in our ward and stake, so much so that I discontinued campaigning within our stake. Bur overall, I was and still am pleased with the result. And I still, obviously, continue to find other ways to promote my message. For example, down at the bottom of the lds.org website is a link for making comments about the site. I made the following comment and I'm anxious to see what sort of a reply I get. I wrote: "I'd like to suggest that an occasional article be posted to remind Church members that the Lord established the U.S. Constitution by the hands of wise men whom He raised up unto that very purpose (D&C 101:77 & 80), and that Latter-day Saints have been told they must study the inspired Constitution and become involved in the political process ourselves to safeguard our freedoms." A big part of the freedom battle is very similar to missionary work and looking for opportunities to get the messages out to listening ears. .
You're welcome.
It was made abundantly clear, too, that politics should not be kept outside the walls of church buildings on Sunday. Church members thinking all they have to do is learn church doctrine and not Constitutional matters are quite mistaken. D&C quotes by you prove that the Constitution is also doctrine we must embrace. Where else can the Elders of Israel come from if not from the ranks of members holding the Priesthood...to save the Constitution from complete ruin?

lundbaek
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by lundbaek »

I agree with FFA's statement that "...the Constitution is also doctrine we must embrace." Between what the Lord said (D&C 101:77 & 80) and what latter-day prophets have told us over the years I don't see how that can be disputed. It has, however, been hotly denied by some members. A friend of mine asked Elder L. Tom Perry shortly before he died "Should the members of the Church still study and live by the U.S. Constitution ?" and told me the reply was "Absolutely!" And my friend wrote further that "He seemed quite disgusted about what is going on in this country but reiterated that the Constitution has not become less, but more important in our day.' And yet it has been made very clear to me that it is not a subject to be discussed in Church activities in our stake. A few years ago Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs wrote in his book DOCTRINES OF LIBERTY - INSIGHTS FROM THE BOOK OF MORMON "i perceive a widespread complacency within the Latter-day Saint community on all things political....the Book of Mormon...reveals the design and will of Heavenly Father concerning the political liberty of His children...we have a doctrinal imperative to preserve liberty."

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JeffB
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by JeffB »

freedomforall wrote: March 10th, 2017, 12:02 am From: The Weighty Matters Of The Law A Plea for the Latter-day Saints to Awaken A compilation by Mark E. Hudson 2006

The Saints Can Be Deceived

The Latter-day Prophets and Apostles are constantly preaching “the milk” of the gospel, even to life-long members of the Church. “Pay your tithing”, “do your home teaching”, “go to the Temple”, “love your neighbors”, “provide for and nurture your family”, “have Family Home Evening every Monday”, “read your scriptures”, etc., are all common themes and are all very important to not leave undone. While some may get tired of hearing it, it must be needed. If the Saints cannot live the basics of the gospel and stay away from pornography, gambling, worldliness, greed, abuse and violence on their own accord, then the Prophets musts pend their time on these very basic evils and constantly warn the Saints against them. This also means that they are not able to preach about the real “meat” of the gospel and the weighty matters of the kingdom. However, I will make the case that our leaders really are speaking of “the meat” to those who have ears to hear.

There are many wonderful and faithful Latter-day Saints who are doing many of the basic, righteous things of the gospel and yet are still deceived or “blinded by the craftiness of men”. How? It is very important to be obedient to the basics of the gospel as mentioned above. Without obedience to the“milk”of the gospel we will never have the Holy Ghost with us long enough to see clearly and not be deceived nor to ultimately get the “meat”.

We know from the scriptures that even the very elect will be deceived. Consider Joseph Smith Translation of Mathew 1:22:22

For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect....

Also in Doctrine and Covenants section 76 the Lord warns that many good men of the earth will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom because they were deceived:

71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn.....
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.

Is it not possible for Latter-day Saints to be included in this definition of those who were “blinded by the craftiness of men” and hence will inherit the terrestrial kingdom because of it?President Benson apparently thought this could be the case when he stated:

“The Lord said that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”(Luke 16:8) [From Benson’s Civic Standards For The Faithful Saints talk]“

President Marion G Romney also stated in a talk... ‘There is no guarantee that the devil will not deceive a lot of men who hold the priesthood.’”[From Benson’s Be Not Deceived talk in General Conference from the early 60s]

What are they talking about? Can the saints be deceived by pornography, immodesty, alcoholism, gambling, etc.? No! The Saints absolutely know that these things are wrong! Consider the very beginning, even the War in Heaven. What was it fought over?
I agree. You did a good job putting your ideas (and evidence) together. I enjoy reading and came across a fascinating book by Ken Bowers on secret combinations while at Deseret Book. Very interesting explanation on the background on secret combinations and where they are today. https://deseretbook.com/p/hiding-plain- ... -paperback

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by freedomforall »

This has been posted before, yet may have a good place here too.

I give credit and thanks to the unknown compiler of it. The idea is to compare then to now. See any parallels?

61 points about Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon


1.Secret combinations existed in times of old (2 Nephi 26:22)

2.They have secret oaths, covenants, agreements, signs, wonders, and plans (Alma 37:27,32)

3.Alma commanded his son not to reveal their secret oaths and covenants to the general public (Alma 37:27)

4.They murdered the prophets (Alma 37:30)

5.The object of all those who belonged to the secret society was to murder, rob, and gain power (Helaman 2:8)

6.They were established in the more settled part of the land (Helaman 3:23)

7.Those at the head of the government for a time did not know they existed (Helaman 3:23)

8.Many were baptized into the church while the secret society was being established (Helaman 3:24) 43 BC

9.After the people had been blessed so long with riches and were not engaged in wars, the people started to set their hearts on riches, so they began to murder and steal as part of a secret combination (Helaman 6:17)

10.They murdered chief judges (Helaman 6:19)

11.When the Lamanites found out that there were secret combinations among them, they tried to destroy them out of their midst (Helaman 6:20)

12.The Nephites united with the secret combination (Helaman 6:21) 25 BC

13.The members of the secret combination covenanted with each other that they would protect and help each other, and not let each other be brought to punishment (Helaman 6:12)

14.They had secret signs and words to identity each other (Helaman 6:22)

15.They covenanted with each other that they should not do wickedness to each other (Helaman 6:22)

16.They would punish any member of the secret combination that would reveal their wickedness (Helaman 6:24)

17.Gadianton had the same oaths and covenants in his secret combination that existed in the secret combinations of the Jaredites, yet Gadianton did not get those oaths and covenants from the plates, but from the devil (Helaman 6:26)

18.The Lamanites destroyed the secret combination from among them by teaching the word of God to them (Helaman 6:37)

19.The Nephites built them up (Helaman 6:38)

20.The secret combination among the Nephites started with the more wicked people, but eventually spread over the whole land. (Helaman 6:38)

21.The more part of the righteous of the Nephites to believe in their works and to partake of their spoils and join with them in murders (Helaman 6:38) 24 BC

22.The secret combination did obtain sole management of the government (Helaman 6:39)

23.Once in power, they began to abuse the poor and humble followers of God (Helaman 6:39)

24.Nephi asked the Lord to send a famine to get the people to repent of supporting the secret combination and performing wicked deeds. Many died, and they began to repent. (Helaman 11:4)

25.The Nephites swept the secret combination out from among them, and the famine ended (Helaman 11:10)

26.Nephite dissenters searched for the plans of Gadianton (Helaman 11:26)

27.They hid in the mountains (Helaman 11:31)

28.At first the Nephites started to repent, but then the just grew more wicked (Helaman 11:37)

29.Many dissenters of the Nephites joined the secret combination, and many of the children were flattered into joining them (3 Nephi 1:28-29)

30.The Nephites continued to fight the secret combination, even though the Nephites remained wicked (3 Nephi 2:10)

31.The leader of the secret combination invited the leader of the Nephites to become equal brothers with them in the secret combination, and equal in all their possessions (3 Nephi 3:7)

32.The leader of the secret combination declared his society and its works to be good and of an ancient date and that it has been handed down to them (3 Nephi 9)

33.The leader of the secret combination accused the Nephites of having retained the rights of government from the people (3 Nephi 3:10)

34.The leader of the secret combination demanded that the Nephites yield all their possession to them (3 Nephi 3:10)

35.The Nephites defeated the secret combination and attributed their victory to their humility and repentance (3 Nephi 4:33)

36.The Nephites put an end to the secret combination (3 Nephi 5:6)

37.Judge secretly were putting to death those that were testifying to the people about their wickedness. Only the chief judge was legally allowed to put someone to death (3 Nephi 6:23)

38.The judge formed a secret combination among themselves to avoid punishment from their crimes, using the same covenants of previous secret combination (3 Nephi 6:28)

39.This new secret combination sought to kill the people of god, kill the chief judge, and establish a king (2 Nephi 6:30)

40.They murdered the chief judge and the Nephites split into tribes (3 Nephi 7:2)

41.They caused a great contention in the land so that almost all the righteous had become wicked (3 Nephi 7:7)

42.They put a man over them as their king (3 Nephi 7:10)

43.After Christ came and the the Nephites and Lamanites were righteous for many years, they began again to build up a secret combinations (4 Nephi 1:42)

44.The Book of Mormon will be brought forth in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations (Mormon 8:27)

45.The Jaredites brought with them a record of secret combinations (Ether 8:9)

46.The daughter of a Jaredite king used an ancient account of a secret combination obtaining a kingdom and great glory as a model for a plan to get her own father's kingdom back (Ether 8:9,18)

47.Moroni purposefully did not write the oaths of the secret combinations because they are already had among all people (Ether 8:20)

48.Secret combinations have caused the destruction of the Nephites (Ether 8:21)

49.Whatsoever nation that upholds secret combinations shall be destroyed (Ether 8:22)

50.Moroni wrote about the secret combinations for the benefit of the Gentiles, so that they could repent and not be overpowered by the secret combinations (Ether 8:23)

51.The Lords commands that when we see secret combinations come among us that we should awake to a sense of our awful situation (Ether 8:24)

52.Those who build up secret combinations seek to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and all people (Ether 8:25)

53.The kingdom of Omer was overthrown because of secret combinations (Ether 9:1)

54.The hearts of all the Jaredites had become corrupt because of the secret combinations (Ether 9:6)

55.The son of a king sought after secret plans of old to dethrone his father (Ether 9:26)

56.A secret combination cause the people to rebel against the king and the kingdom was split (Ether 11:15)

57.The Lord decreed that another people would possess the land because of the wickedness of the people and the secret combinations (Ether
11:21-22)

58.Mighty men rose up and tried to use their secret combination to destroy the king (Ether 13:15)

59.The secret combination killed many people in their effort to obtain the kingdom from the king (Ether 13:18)

60.A king received great strength because of secret combinations (Ether 14:8)

61.A king's high priest murdered his king, and then that high priest was murdered by a member of that secret combinations (Ether 8:9-10)

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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

Post by freedomforall »

JeffB wrote: March 14th, 2017, 12:52 am
freedomforall wrote: March 10th, 2017, 12:02 am From: The Weighty Matters Of The Law A Plea for the Latter-day Saints to Awaken A compilation by Mark E. Hudson 2006

The Saints Can Be Deceived

The Latter-day Prophets and Apostles are constantly preaching “the milk” of the gospel, even to life-long members of the Church. “Pay your tithing”, “do your home teaching”, “go to the Temple”, “love your neighbors”, “provide for and nurture your family”, “have Family Home Evening every Monday”, “read your scriptures”, etc., are all common themes and are all very important to not leave undone. While some may get tired of hearing it, it must be needed. If the Saints cannot live the basics of the gospel and stay away from pornography, gambling, worldliness, greed, abuse and violence on their own accord, then the Prophets musts pend their time on these very basic evils and constantly warn the Saints against them. This also means that they are not able to preach about the real “meat” of the gospel and the weighty matters of the kingdom. However, I will make the case that our leaders really are speaking of “the meat” to those who have ears to hear.

There are many wonderful and faithful Latter-day Saints who are doing many of the basic, righteous things of the gospel and yet are still deceived or “blinded by the craftiness of men”. How? It is very important to be obedient to the basics of the gospel as mentioned above. Without obedience to the“milk”of the gospel we will never have the Holy Ghost with us long enough to see clearly and not be deceived nor to ultimately get the “meat”.

We know from the scriptures that even the very elect will be deceived. Consider Joseph Smith Translation of Mathew 1:22:22

For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect....

Also in Doctrine and Covenants section 76 the Lord warns that many good men of the earth will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom because they were deceived:

71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn.....
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.

Is it not possible for Latter-day Saints to be included in this definition of those who were “blinded by the craftiness of men” and hence will inherit the terrestrial kingdom because of it?President Benson apparently thought this could be the case when he stated:

“The Lord said that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”(Luke 16:8) [From Benson’s Civic Standards For The Faithful Saints talk]“

President Marion G Romney also stated in a talk... ‘There is no guarantee that the devil will not deceive a lot of men who hold the priesthood.’”[From Benson’s Be Not Deceived talk in General Conference from the early 60s]

What are they talking about? Can the saints be deceived by pornography, immodesty, alcoholism, gambling, etc.? No! The Saints absolutely know that these things are wrong! Consider the very beginning, even the War in Heaven. What was it fought over?
I agree. You did a good job putting your ideas (and evidence) together. I enjoy reading and came across a fascinating book by Ken Bowers on secret combinations while at Deseret Book. Very interesting explanation on the background on secret combinations and where they are today. https://deseretbook.com/p/hiding-plain- ... -paperback
Great. Here is a little reduction in price:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing ... dition=new

Thanks.

freedomforall
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Re: Waking Up To Secret Combinations

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